Fruit caws with liquids



(No Model.)

W. H. H. STEVENSON.

METHOD OF FILLING FRUIT CANS WITH LIQUIDS. No. 325,131.

Fi i

WITNESSES: INVENTOR: ZZL A MN.3\ -%WW :I. Y

Attorney.

rrnn rrns Farnnr OFFICE.

\VILLIAM H. H. STEVENSON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

METHOD OF FILLING FRUIT-CANS WITH LIQUID.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,l31,datcd August 25,1885.

(No liiOdcl.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM H. H. STEVEN sON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Method for Filling Fruit-Cans with Liquids, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying d raw ings.

Inpackinghermetically sealedgoodsthecans are first filled ordinarily with the samesuch as fruit, vegetables, &c.after which a certain amount of water, sirup, or any desired liquor is applied. The cans are then capped, sealed, and processed.

My invention relates to a method of filling the cans with liquids, which is now principally done by hand; and it consists of snbmerging the cans,after they have been filled and capped, but not sealed, in the liquid with which the cans are to be filled, and then creating a vac uum therein, which permits the said liquid to enter the cans, thereby filling the same.

As illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, a device is shown by which my method is exemplified, in which Figure 1 is a side View with parts in section; Fig. 2, an enlarged detail view of the can in section, showing the holes in the cap and part of the packing de vice, and Fig. 3 a top view of the can.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The letter A designates the vessel which contains the liquid with which the cans are to be filled; O, a reciprocating chamber, in which a vacuum is created by any desired means, and which is communicated thereto by the hose a. From the chamber G project pipes I), which are provided at the end with a flexible packing, I), which makes a tight joint between the cans d and the ends of the pipes 72, the said device being provided with suitable guide-rods, e, countcrweights f, and intermediate mechanism, whereby the whole is counterbalanced.

The tray B, in which the cans d are placed, is provided with a perforated bottom and suitable guides, g, which pass loosely through the frame of the chamber C, weights h, and pulley mechanism, whereby the same is reciprocated and counterbalanced similar to the chamber 0, which work in unison thereto, as herein after explained in the operation, as follows:

In the vessel A is placed the liquid with which the cans are to be supplied, and the chamber 0 and the tray B raised. The cans, which have been previously filled with goods and capped, are then placed in said tray, with the opening z in the cap I opposite the opening 7.: in the packing, with the vent or inlet port at to one side of same. (See Fig. 2.) The chamber 0 is then pressed down, and with it the tray B, by the packing 1) coming in contact with the top of the cans, thereby making a tight joint between the two. The whole is then pressed down until the tops of the cans are submerged, and held in that position until the cans are filled. After the cans are submerged a. vacuum is formed in the chamber C by opening a valve in the pipe a, which comm unicates with vacuum mechanism, thereby exhausting the air in the cans, which permits the same to fill with the fluid through the port in by the action of the atmospheric pressure. After the filling has taken place the valve in the pipe (I. is closed and the chamber C and tray B are raised, the cans removed, sealed, and processed, and another lot placed therein, and so on.

By this method the cans are quickly and thoroughly filled with the liquid at a nominal expense and by unskilled persons.

Tomatoes and moist-like oods ma be filled,

by this method, provided the port or is large enough to admit the same.

I do not herein claim anything pertaining to the mechanism. as the same is fully detailed and more thoroughly shown and described in an application for United States Letters Patent for the same, which was filed by me April 10, 188+, No. 127,391, and allowed.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and wish to secure by United States Letters Patent, is

In filling cans with liquids, the method of first submerging the cans in the liquid with which they are to be filled, and while submerged exhausting the air or forming a vac uum in the can or cans, whereby the liquid is caused to pass therein.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM H. H. STEVENSON.

Vitnesses:

M. H. PLL'XKETT, WM. B. Nniusox. 

